I am seriously considering gaining my Cat C and then after a year my Cat C+E licence in the hope of becoming a long haul driver. Im getting such mixed info I was hoping of getting advice from the horses mouth so to speak, as in what are the pitfalls etc and how to go about gaining employment as everyone seems to advertise for experienced drivers. Also pay… I have been told the pay can range from 22k up to 40+k!!! Is this correct?
Also would my age be a problem. Im a fit and healthy 54 and 3/4’s?
Here’s an example of a con: driver today started at 3. Finished his run 10 hours later…told by manager he had to do another run and that refusal would be to refuse ‘a reasonable request.’
I am seriously considering gaining my Cat C and then after a year my Cat C+E licence in the hope of becoming a long haul driver. Im getting such mixed info I was hoping of getting advice from the horses mouth so to speak, as in what are the pitfalls etc and how to go about gaining employment as everyone seems to advertise for experienced drivers. Also pay… I have been told the pay can range from 22k up to 40+k!!! Is this correct?
Also would my age be a problem. Im a fit and healthy 54 and 3/4’s?
I’m 54… and started driving 18 months ago. No dramas if you’re fit and healthy.
No idea where you are… .but I’m on about 35k in the Midlands. I’m on store deliveries and collections. The work is simple enough…ruined by an appalling management culture.
If I’m honest I’m half looking to get out… whilst levelling the score with management.
If you really want to be a driver then go for it. You wont get rich but there are a variety of jobs out there. You might find one that you like. There are a lot of moaners on this forum but they wont or cant get out of the industry.
There’s lots of different sectors in the industry, ok you might have to take what you can get at first but if you skill yourself up and do a good job in no time you’ll find your niche.
On the subject of niche’s, specialising in some of the more intricate or hard graft or mucky (or all three) aspects of the job can be quite rewarding, both financially and in job interest and satisfaction.
Some are quite happy to plod the roads and sit for hours in an RDC whilst others (un)load the vehicle then drive back, and there’s nothing wrong with that at all if it suits you, others find more interest in being hands on or in jobs that require a bit more thought, find your own niche.
As said lots of moaners, if there were olympic events for moaning about bugger all UK lorry drivers would be perma gold medallists, funny how they’re still moaning the will to live out of every bugger they come into contact with in that same industry all of their working lives.
I am seriously considering gaining my Cat C and then after a year my Cat C+E licence in the hope of becoming a long haul driver. Im getting such mixed info I was hoping of getting advice from the horses mouth so to speak, as in what are the pitfalls etc and how to go about gaining employment as everyone seems to advertise for experienced drivers. Also pay… I have been told the pay can range from 22k up to 40+k!!! Is this correct?
Also would my age be a problem. Im a fit and healthy 54 and 3/4’s?
In the current climate I doubt you should have much trouble getting a start without experience…
There is such a variety of work in the industry that there’s something for most people.
You can easily do 40k + in some areas
And struggle to make 25k in others
I would have a really good look around
Where you are & find out what potential companies have depots. Then use the search on here to find out as much as you can about the jobs.
The main problem with the driving industry for me is the expectation from the transport office that you must max your hours out every day.
But only pay a day rate which equates to almost minimum wage.
Hi, I gained my class 2 last October after being made redundant from my then job due to covid, I’m 46 BTW, I’m doing very niche class 2 work for a midland company delivering plant machinery around the country and currently on a basic of £42k, what I would say is yeah £££ = loads of hours, being away from home sometimes, working every other weekend etc, yes company’s want the maximum out of the driver and the lorry, my work/life balance is poor but I want the money.
I would never recommend becoming a driver of any sort.
We can only speak from experience and all of our experiences will be unique and that means that the kind of person you are will shape your experience.
If you can turn off, become clinical, focused on providing a good service, do not mind living to third world standards and do all this while being exploited by all and sundry yet feel that you are not, then it could be any job in any sector…However if you want to be a lorry driver unless you are well disciplined you will gain weight, suffer health issues, loss of a social life, early starts will take their toll, you will suffer mental health issues to a certain degree.
You have to care just enough to do a good job, but not enough to care that you are going to get shafted by all and sundry…
It seems I have a cynical outlook reading the above.
I would not do any kind of work in this country, the people moan and the employers are slowly becoming more gestapo like…I fail to see what sector of employment would be satisfying and rewarding, other that driving a desk and lying for a living, that seems to attract a decent salary with little or no responsibility, Mr Johnson appears to get away with it, along with all his cohorts.
You might be 54 and healthy , but take a job driving lorries & you’ll end up like me , 59 & very unhealthy , and I’m far from the only one , just look at most 50/60 yr old drivers , and that should tell you it’s not a good idea
I doubt you’ll take notice , but in 5 yrs you’ll be on here asking about how do you pass a medical with x,y , ,z wrong with you , forget the hours , the pay , it’s all irevelant if you haven’t got your health .
I’ve now packed up as I can not do what I’m being told to do by consultants , doctors etc , it’s just not possible , and like the consultant said if you don’t help yourself we can’t help you , so hopefully a break helps me , but I can’t see me being able to reverse my issues
You’ve got the chance not to end up in that situation. , so I’d look at a flt job if your deseperate to drive something
You’ve answered your own question.
You want long haul work so do most others.
But the general consensus within the industry, driven by government policy, is to minimise truck freight journeys wherever possible using punitive measures to do it with laughable fuel taxation being the biggest and worst.
So the best work is increasingly reducing and an over subscribed face fits pecking order is applied to it.
Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that taking all the local multi drop zb and building materials deliveries and labourer/‘driver’ jobs that you are ‘offered’ will get you up the ladder.
It’s all bs to protect their own coveted positions or what remains of them or to leap frog the queue.
As I’ve said elsewhere many prospective truck drivers would prefer to drive cars for the local garage for a bit less money, than drive a builders hiab/scaffold truck around the same local streets with the insult of site and yard labouring added to the injury of the boredom.
Retail distribution isn’t much if any better but at least cage and tail lift work is relatively easier than handballing building materials but still plenty of potential for handball at worse.
Look on the bright side you might be lucky enough to get onto night trunking.Which has often degenerated into hub system runs of 2 hours driving in each direction and the rest of the shift being used as a warehouse labourer.
Ironically there’s as much if not more chance of long haul work doing fleet car trade plate work.But again with the catch that it’s oversubscribed to the point where employers are able to attach the job of vehicle assessor/valuer to it and the corresponding responsibility all for around minimum wage and the mugs take it.
I think driving is a job you have to want to do, not just a way to make money. I mostly enjoyed my 45yrs, but will be the first to admit I worked for good employers. I think if you did it purely for money, the cons would soon outweigh the pros.
Carryfast:
You’ve answered your own question.
You want long haul work so do most others.
But the general consensus within the industry, driven by government policy, is to minimise truck freight journeys wherever possible using punitive measures to do it with laughable fuel taxation being the biggest and worst.
So the best work is increasingly reducing and an over subscribed face fits pecking order is applied to it.
Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that taking all the local multi drop zb and building materials deliveries and labourer/‘driver’ jobs that you are ‘offered’ will get you up the ladder.
It’s all bs to protect their own coveted positions or what remains of them or to leap frog the queue.
As I’ve said elsewhere many prospective truck drivers would prefer to drive cars for the local garage for a bit less money, than drive a builders hiab/scaffold truck around the same local streets with the insult of site and yard labouring added to the injury of the boredom.
Retail distribution isn’t much if any better but at least cage and tail lift work is relatively easier than handballing building materials but still plenty of potential for handball at worse.
Look on the bright side you might be lucky enough to get onto night trunking.Which has often degenerated into hub system runs of 2 hours driving in each direction and the rest of the shift being used as a warehouse labourer.
Ironically there’s as much if not more chance of long haul work doing fleet car trade plate work.But again with the catch that it’s oversubscribed to the point where employers are able to attach the job of vehicle assessor/valuer to it and the corresponding responsibility all for around minimum wage and the mugs take it.
I done night shift long haul for 8 years and couldn’t wait to come off it. Its a grim existence. Driving in the dark for 8 or 9 hours with nobody to talk to. It takes it toll. Trying to sleep during the day is difficult I found. Especially if you have kids and in the summer. I’ve just been made redundant from a Warehouse Supervisor post so getting back behind the wheel again after 5 years. 30k for Class 2 multi drop and 32k for class 1 if I want to move up. That’s 7 til 6 Monday to Friday dayshift. I’d much prefer that than nightshift or weekends. But then again that more suits my lifestyle as I have a young family and go to the football at the weekend. Probably more money on night trunking and it’s easy but I hated it.
